412 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XIY.
no purpose, unless he repeated laws, and fastened them upon the soul. So our Saviour Christ still when he had spoken excellent things, saith, ' Let him that hath ears to hear, hear,' Mat. xi. 15. So saith Jeremiah, ' Who is wise to consider these things ?' Jor. I'l. 12 ; and the conclusion of that excellent psalm is just thus, ' Who is wise to consider these things ?' Ps. cvii. 43. And saith Moses, ' 0 that they were wise, that they would think of these things,' &c., Deut. xxxii. 29. So everywhere in Scripture you have such fastening of things, where truths have heen spoken, in applica- tion of them ; which doth justify the course of God's messengers in bring- ing the word home unto men's consciences, because that which is spoken loosely in general, no man applieth in particular to himself. We who are messengers of God must therefore bring things home to the conscience. ' Who is wise, and he shall understand these things,' &c.
But that which more nearly concerneth us is, whereas first of all he pro- pounds this exhortation, to regard these things under this holy acclamation, ' Who is wise, and who is prudent ? ' we see, first of all,
Obs. That there are but few who are truly ivise a) id prudent.
Few that enter the right way ; for our Saviour sheweth that ' narrow is this way, and few there be that find it,' Mat. vii. 14. The point needs not much proof, it is so plain and well kno\^Ta ; wherefore it is now touched only, making way to other things. The reason hereof is clear.
Ileason. Most men, we see, live by sense, will, and passion, and not by faith, whereby they enthral the wisdom they have, and make it prisoner to sinful passions and aflections, rejecting thoughts of their own future happi- ness ; and though it behove them in this world to be broken of their will, yet they will have it here, though they perish and be damned for it here- after. This is the state of the unbroken heart of man, till he have grace in him. Yea, it is the state of all men, especially those that are puffed up, either by their own place, humom*, or the flattery of others. They wiU have their will. Mens mihi pro regno, as one said. Now, this being the proud, poisonful nature of man, we must not think it a strange thing that there are so few wise and prudent ; for a man cannot be wise and passionate ; for his passion transforms him to be a beast, a devil. Now, because most men live by sense and by humour, which is a life they are nuzzled* in (especially those that are subject to flatterers), therefore few come to be truly wise and prudent, to have so much steadiness and sobriety of spirit as to deliberate what is to be done. They will not in cold blood give leisure to their humours (but feed them), to consider what is best. This being the humour of the world, no wonder that there be so few prudent and wise.
Use 1. Since things are thus, learn this of it. If there be so few prudent and wise, as the prophets complain in all times, ' To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? and who hath believed our report?' &c., Isa. liii. 1, then take heed, of Uvinfj by example, that we be not led away with the sway and error of the times ; for seeing there are few ' wise and prudent,' it is better and safer to follow one man reformed by judgment than a thousand others. One man is worth a thousand, who is led with judgment and by the Spirit of God.
Use 2. And likewise take no scandal} if you see men run upo7i heaps in the broad and ivorst way, for that men have always done. It is the complaint of all the prophets in all times, caUing the better sort few. * As the grapes after the vintage, Uke a few scattered ears of com after harvest,' Isa. xvii.
* That is, ' nursed.'— G. f That is, ' let it not be a stumbling-block.'— G.
HOSEA XrV. 9. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 413
5, 6. ' One of a city, and two of a tribe, a few of all,' Jer. iii. 14. There- fore now let us seal this truth with this exhortation.
Use 3. That we labour to be of that few that are tndy ivise and prudent. Examine, are we of those few or not, and what have we in us that may secure us to be of this small number ? for if we be not, we shall never be saved. For Christ's flock ' is a Httle flock,' Luke xii. 32 ; and few there be that shall enter in at that strait gate. What hast thou, then, which may discover unto thine own soul that thou art of that number, and not of the common multitude that shall be damned ? It is a thing worth the inquiring of our souls. "What have we in us that may characterise us to be God's true servants, Christ's true children, and members of the church ? and never rest in a common persuasion of common gi-ace, which castaways may have as well as we. We must strive for some distinct grace, that reprobates cannot attain unto.